Crocheting or overseaming machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 1.

J. M. MERROW. GROGHETING 0R OVERSEAMING MAGHINE.

No. 428,508. Patented May 20, 1890.

WITNESSES INVENTOR (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. M. MERROW. GROOHETING 0R OVERSEAMING MACHINE.

No. 428,508.- Patented May 20, 1890.

l fllli' 0% L ||||I PHIIIII I] WITNESSES INVENTOR;

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. M. MEBROW.

GROGHETING 0R OVERSEAMING MACHINE. v

' Patented May 20, 1890.

WITNESSES: w

o/LM/M JOSEPH M. MERROW, OF MERROV, CONNECTICUT.

CROCHETING OR OVERSEAMING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,508, dated. May 20, 1890.

Application filed September 12, 1887- Serial No. 249.491. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. Mnnnow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Merrow, in the county of Tolland and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crocheting or Overseaming Machines, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

My invention relates to feeding mechanism and new and useful combinations therewith.

The object of my invention is to produce new and improved ornamental crocheted finish or border by machinery upon fabrics in general, but particularly upon knitted fabrics which have heretofore been ornamentally finished by hand. I accomplish this object by means of the improvements hereinafter described, illustrated, and claimed, consisting in new mechanism and new combinations of mechanism.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical side view of a portion of a crocheting or overseaming machine, showing the feeding mechanism. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a similar machine reduced in size. Fig. 3 is a detached vertical side View of a portion of the feeding mechanism, showing the patternwheel. Fig. 4 is a vertical side View of the feed-dog and lock and operating parts immediately connected therewith. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the work-plate, showing the finger-plates and top of the feed-dog. Fig. 6 is atop view of the finger-plate lock detached-part being in section. Fig. 7 is a vertical view of a section of the work-plate and finger-plates on line .2 z of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a plan or top view of a portion of the feedbar, the auxiliary feed-bar, and feed-dog, the latter being in section on line y g of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a vertical end view of a portion of the feed-bars and feed-dog, parts being in section on line 9020 of Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference represent corresponding parts in all the figures.

A represents the bed of the crocheting or overseaming machine and forms the support for the principal working and other parts, and also forms the work-plate or table. Supported in bearings 13, beneath the bed A, is the main driving-shaft C, to which is secured the wheel D, adapted to have motion inrparted to it by hand or by any other convenient means to operate the machine. To the main shaft C is secured an eccentric integral with the cam-cylinder R,which, together, oper ate the needle 5 through the eccentric-rod S, the needle-lever s, and needle-bar s, and also operate the looping mechanism consisting, principally, in the angle-lever T, the straight lever t, the hook-bar guide if, the hook-bar t with its slotted head i and guide 25 and crochet-hook 75 U is the presser-foot bar, to the lower end of which is secured the presserfoot u. The finger-plate a is provided with a finger a and slot a The parts hereinbefore' specifically mentioned comprise the principal portion of a crocheting or overseaming machine which forms the subject of my application for Letters Patent filed on January 18, A. D. 1886, Serial No. 188,912, and to which reference may be had for a more complete description.

The feeding mechanism, hereinafter described and claimed, is shown as applied to a crocheting or overseaming machine similar to the one above herein referred to; but such feeding mechanism may be applied to other machines.

Upon the main shaft C is secured the principal feed-bar cam E, which, in conjunction with the spring F, operates the principal feed-' bar G, said feed-cam E acting upon the projection g, depending from the lower side of said principal feed-bar G in proximity with said feed-cam E. The principal feed-bar G is supported in bearings upon the bed A in such a manner that the said feed-bar may be re ciprocated longitudinally in said bearings. Near one end of the principal feed-bar G is a small projection g which is brought into contact with the end of the screw f, when the spring F is allowed to operate, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The screw f, which is screwed through a portion of the bed A, adjustably limits the distance to which the principal feed-bar G can be drawn horizontally in a direction toward said screw f by the action of the spring F, and the direction mentioned wiLl,'for convenience, hereinafterbecalledthe backward direction of said principal feed-bar G,while motion in the opposite direction will be called the forward motion or direction. A groove or Way 9 is made vertically across the enlarged portion or head of the principal feed-bar G, which groove g forms a guide for the feed-dog 9 said feeddog g being adapted to be reciprocated in said groove g as will be further explained.

H is an auxiliary feed-bar, pivoted to the projection g on the upper side of the principal feed-bar G by means of a stud or screw h. The opposite end of the said auxiliary feedbar H is turned or bent upward, and is provided with a stud or pin h, for a purpose whichwill hereinafterbe fully explained. The auxiliary feed-bar H passes under and is loosely held by the cap 7L2, secured to the principal feed-bar G by the screws 71 h By this construction the feed-dog g is held in its groove 9 and receives a vertical reciprocating motion from the auxiliary feed-bar H through the screw h,which passes through the sloth in the auxiliary feed-bar H and screwed into the said feed-dog g The auxiliary feedbar H receives its vertical reciprocating n10- tions from the pin Z in a slot its in said auxiliary feed-barl-I, in a manner about to be explained.

Secured firmly to the main shaft 0 at one of its outer ends is a pinion or toothed wheel I, gearing into the larger toothed wheel J, the latter being held to the bed A by the shoulder screw or stud j, upon which stud the said toothed wheel J may be rotated. Attached to the side of the toothed wheel J is a pattern wheel or disk K, having a projection it upon its periphery, said projection being formed with a grade or incline 76 at one of its ends. Pivoted to the bed A upon a stud or screw Z is a lever L, provided with a projection or pin Z located nearly over the center of the pattern-wheel K and resting upon the edge thereof. Near one end of the lever L and adjustably secured to it by the nut Z is a stud or pin Z which extends through an aperture o in the bed A and into the slot h in the auxiliary feed-bar H, as hereinbefore mentioned. Thecoiled wire spring F is connected at one of its ends to a pinf, extending downwardly from the bed A, while the other end of said coiled wire spring F is connected with the auxiliary feed-bar H through a hole f in said auxiliary feed-bar H. On account of the angular or diagonal position of the spring F its force is exerted in a downward and backward direction upon the auxiliary feed-bar H and its connected parts. When the pin Z rests upon the projection 7c of the pattern-wheel K, the lever L, the auxiliary feed-bar H, and consequently the feeddog g will be held in their highest or upward positions, with the teeth of said feed-dog g extending slightly above the work-plate through the slot a in the finger-plate a to engage the fabric, as is common in sewingmachines; but when the pin Z is resting upon the surface k of the pattern-wheel K the lever L, the auxiliary feed-bar H, and therefore the feed-dog 9 will be in their lowest or downward positions.

It Will be seen that the pattern-wheel K governs the position vertically of the feeddog g. The pattern-wheel K is here shown as circular in form, except at the projection 7c, and at all other parts acts simply as a stop to prevent the further downward motion of the pin Z and its connected parts. It is obvious that any stationary stop for the pin Z or any of its connected parts may be used as well. Further, I do not confine myself to the particular pattern shown nor to the exact relative sizes of the toothed wheels or gears.

The feed-dog 9 may be adjusted vertically somewhat by means of the adjustable stud or pin Z which may be moved upward or downward by loosening the nut Z the hole through which the pin Z passes in the lever L being somewhat larger than the said pin Z at that point.

In the mechanism shown the feed-cam E rotates, and with the action of thespring F causes the principal feed-bar G, together with the attached parts, to reciprocate horizontally five times forward and backward to each revolution of the pattern-wheel K, the toothed wheel J, which carries said pattern-wheel K, being five times as large as the small gear 1; hence the feed-dog is carried five times forward and five times backward, but only once up and once down to each complete rotation of the toothed wheel J with its patternwheel K.

The cam E should be so timed in relation to the projection 7a on the pattern-wheel K that the pin Z will becaused by the rotation of shaft 0 to rise upon the incline or grade K of the said projection 70 at a time after the feed-dog g has moved to its extreme backward position, in which backward position the feed-dog 9 will then be raised vertically to its highest or operative position in readiness to carry or feed the fabric forward by the further rotation of the shaft 0, the fabric having been placed between the presserfoot u and finger-plate a. The projection 70 upon the pattern-wheel K should be made of such length as to pass by the pin Z and allow the action of the spring F to carry said pin Z down to its lowest position, (in case it should fail to dropby its own gravity,) and with it the feed-dog g at a time soon after the said feed-dog g has reached its extreme forward position, so that when it returns to its backward position it will not engage the fabric.

It is obvious that the feed-dog g should engage the fabric and carry it forward while the needle 8 is out of said fabric.

In the arrangement shown and described it will be seen that the needle 8 and the looping mechanism belonging with said needle 8 will be operated five times, while the fabric being placed with its edge under the presserfoot, as explained, will remain stationary, and that after the fifth loop has been formed, (the needle 3 having been previously supplied with thread,) and while the needle is above and out of the fabric, the said fabric will then be fed along one step, the length of which step being the distance to which the feed-dog g carries said fabric during the whole of one forward motion ofsaid feeddog 9 Five loops will therefore be formed around the finger to upon the .edge of the fabric, each of said loops passing through or connected to the fabric at very near the same point. The tendency then is for the loops to be formed over and upon each other, and, after several loops have been formed, the hook 75 which forms said loops, has a great tendency to become entangled in the superimposed loops. The loops also will be made of uncertain size.

To obviate the difficulties mentioned, a supplemental apparatus is provided to push or carry along the loops slightly without materially moving the fabric and thus carry said loops out of the path of the looping-hook t and modifying the loops, as will be more fully explained.

The construction and cooperation of the supplemental feeding meclianism are as fol lows, viz: M is a supplemental finger-plate loosely held in the groove m in the bed Aby means of two gibs or caps m m, which caps are held to the said bed A by screws m The supplemental finger-plate M is made at its forward end in an irregular form somewhat resembling the ends of two fingers placed closely together, the finger m being slightly longer and somewhat smaller than the finger m such form not being necessary, but deemed advantageous. The supplemental finger-plate M is further provided with pins m m which are of use in limiting the longitudinal throw, which the said supplemental finger-plate is adapted to have imparted to it. The caps m an act as stops for the pins m m Made integral (in this case) with the supplemental finger-plate M is the dependent portion N, which forms a support for the shoulder '12 and the latch 71 which latch 01 is loosely held in the slot 01' by means of the pin a The fiat spring 91 secured to the support N by the screw it, exerts its force to hold the latch n in position shown, the pin it being a stop to limit the motion of the said latch 07. in the direction in which the spring a carries said latch. The mechanism dependent from the bottom of the supplemental finger-plate M, I have named the look. This lock is adapted to engage the stud 7L (hereinbefore mentioned, but the use of which is not explained) when said stud is in its lowest. and most backward position, but not when said stud 71 is in its highest position. The stud 7& is carried forward and backward with the auxiliary feed-bar H at every rotation of the cam E, and will be in its lowest position at all times, except during one out of every five of its forward movements, at which time the said stud 71 will move forward after it has been raised to its highest position,as has been explained.

In Fig. i the upturned end of the auxiliary feed-bar H, which carries the stud h, is shown in its highest and most forward position by the solid lines, while the dotted lines show other positions of said feed-bar and stud, as will be explained. Commencing at the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 4, the

auxiliary feed-bar H will next be carried downward to the position shown by the dotted lines and marked H, thence backward to the dotted position H ,'and during its backward passage the outer or flattened end of the stud it will be brought into contact with and slide along the inclined edge of thelatch n pressing said latch 02 into its groove of; but after the passage of the said pin h by the pro ecting end of the said latch n said latch will be brought into its normal position by the action of the spring a. The auxiliary feed-bar H will then be moved forward and backward several times while in its lowest position, carrying forward the supplemental finger-plate M when the pin h comes into contact with the projecting end of the latch 01 and carrying said supplemental finger-plate ,M backward when the said pin 7v comes into contact with the rigid shoulder a. As has already been stated, the auxiliary feed-bar H will be carried from its lowest position to its highest at a time after it has reached its most backward position, and the dotted lines marked H represent the latter position. From this point the auxiliary feed-bar II will be raised to the position ofthe dotted lines marked H after it has completed a series of reciprocations in its lowest position, and thence be carried forward to the extent of its throw, moving the pin h" along in a path over and above the latch 42 The lock, together with the supplemental finger-plate M, will therefore be left behind and remain stationary and inits most backward position. At the time when the supplemental finger-plate M remains stationary the feed-clog will operate to feed along the fabric, said feed-dog g being carried forward in its highest position.

Having carefully described and explained the construction and operation of the various parts of mechanism included in my present invention, and also having in general explained the machine to which such mechanism is applied, I will briefly describe the co-operation of various parts and the result of such co-operation.

It will be supposed, for convenience, that the needle 8 has been supplied with thread; that the fabric has been placed between the presser-foot a and fingerplate a, with the edge of said fabric upon the finger a, and that loops have already been formed for a short distance along the edge of said fabric by the looping mechanism. If now the main shaft is rotated, carrying with it the various parts which are secured to said shaft, the feed-cam will at the proper time carry forward the principal feed-bar and the parts thereto connected. The small toothed wheelwill rotate and revolve the larger toothed wheel with the pattern-disk,

ing mechanism, will also be in operation.

Vhile the loops are being formed upon the edge of the fabric, the supplemental fingerplate will be carried forward and back, (excepting one stitch in every set of five stitches or loops,) dwelling for a short time at each end of its throw, pushing or feeding forward the loops sufliciently to clear them from the looping-hook, and remaining forward long enough to have a new loop formed around or over the larger part of the forward end of the supplemental finger-plate at the proper time. The supplemental finger-plate remains backward while one stitch or loop is formed around the small station ary finger-plate, which loop will therefore be smalleror shorter than the other loops of the series, and will be formed at the time when the fabric is fed forward,

which has a tendency to make the border nar-.

rower and less prominent at that point.

I prefer to finish the edge of the fabric first with one course of plain or regular crocheted loops and add the new and improved border upon the plain finish very near the edge of the fabric or even outside of the original fabric.

Having thus stated my invention, I now.

claim- 1. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of the following mechanisms: a stitch-forming mechanism provided with a thread-carrier and a looper, the latter co-operating with the thread-carrier to engage the thread on alternately-opposite sides of the fabric and draw loops thereof to or beyond the edge of the fabric and interloop the ends of said loops, and an intermitting-feed mechanism engaging the fabric to advance the latter only after the formation of two or more complete stitches by the stitch-forming mechanism, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a machine such as described, and with a reciprocating threadcarrying needle, a looper engaging the needle-th read alternately on opposite sides of the fabric to draw and interloop said thread along the edge of the fabric, and a fabric-feeding device operating upon the fabric to advance the latter only after several reciprocations of the needle, of a system of driving mechanism, substantially such as described, connecting the needle-looper and feeding mechanism in a manner to cause the feeding devices to operate upon the fabric to advance the latter after a series of stitches have been formed and while the needle is withdrawn from the fabric and a loop of the thread held by the looper.

3. In a machine such as described, and in combination with a stitch-forming mechanism comprising a thread-carrier and a looper co-operating to form stitches around the edge of the fabric, a reciprocating feed-dog held in inoperative relation to the stitch-forming mechanism during the formation of a series of stitches and brought into operative relation with the fabric at intervals occurring between successive series of stitches, substantially as described.

at. The combination, in a machine such as described, and with a thread-carrier and a looper co-operating therewith to form loops around the edge of the fabric and interloop said loops, of a reciprocating feed-dog held looper, with means for reciprocating said looper alternately above and beneath the fabric to engage the thread and draw loops therefrom to or beyond the edge of the fabric, of a loop-feeding device engaging the loops beyond the edge of the fabric, and means for actuating said loop-feeding device, whereby a series of loops are formed while the fabric remains stationary.

6. The combination, with a reciprocating needle and a looper reciprocating alternately above and below the fabric to engage the needle-thread on opposite sides of the fabric, of a feeding device engaging the fabric and a loop-feeding device arranged and operating beyond the edge of the fabric to engage the loops thereon, substantially as described, whereby after a series of loops is formed the fabric is fed to spread the cluster.

7. In a machine such as described, the combination, with a thread carrying needle, a looper eo-operating therewith, and a fabric feed operating at intervals between successive series of reciprocations of the needle, of a finger around which the loops are formed, and a loop-feeding divice engaging the loops upon said finger, substantially as described.

8. In a machine such as described, the combination, with a stitch -forming mechanism comprising a thread-carrying needle and a looper co-operating therewith to engage the thread alternately above and beneath the fabric, and draw-loops beyond the edge of the latter and interlooping said loops at their outer ends, a fabric feed engaging the fabric only after a series of stitches have been formed, of a finger adjacent the needle around which the loops are drawn, and a loop-feeding device located beyond the edge of the fabric and engaging the loops, substantially as described.

9. A stitch forming mechanism comprising a thread-carrier and a looper, and a finger around which the stitches are formed, in combination with a feeding device engaging the stitches on the finger, substantially as described.

JOSEPH M. MERROVV. Vitnesses:

CHAS. II. PRESTON, CHAs. F. THAYER. 

